Modesty never rages, never murmurs, never pouts; when it is ill-treated, it pines, it beseeches, it languishes.

It is the duty of a great person so to demean himself, as that whatever endowments he may have, he may appear to value himself upon no qualities but such as any man may arrive at.

Nothing is more silly than the pleasure some people take in "speaking their minds." A man of this make will say a rude thing for the mere pleasure of saying it, when an opposite behavior, full as innocent, might have preserved his friend, or made his fortune.

The world is grown so full of dissimulation and compliment, that men's words are hardly any signification of their thoughts.

Since our persons are not of our own making, when they are such as appear defective or uncomely, it is, methinks, an honest and laudable fortitude to dare to be ugly.

When a man is not disposed to hear music, there is not a more disagreeable sound in harmony than that of the violin.

The world will never be in any manner of order or tranquility until men are firmly convinced that conscience, honor and credit are all in one interest